MEDIA ADVISORY 

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla to Speak at Citizenship Ceremony in Fresno

FRESNO – Secretary of State Alex Padilla will deliver the keynote speech at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) naturalization ceremony at the Fresno Convention Center on Tuesday, May 16 at 10:00 a.m. Secretary Padilla will be encouraging the new citizens to register to vote and be active participants in America’s democracy.  

Close to 1,000 new citizens are expected to take the Oath of Allegiance at this ceremony. 

Secretary Padilla's parents emigrated from Mexico and raised their family in the working class community of Pacoima, California.  His father worked as a short order cook and his mother cleaned houses. Padilla attended local public schools and went on to graduate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. Padilla served as a Los Angeles City Council member from 1999 to 2006 and as a California State Senator from 2006 to 2014 before being sworn in as Secretary of State on January 5, 2015. 

USCIS is asking new citizens and their families and friends to share the experience and photos at their ceremonies via Twitter using the hashtag #newUScitizen. 

Media are welcome to cover this event, and to approach new citizens for interviews.

WHO:

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla

WHEN:

Tuesday, May 16, 2017
10:00 a.m.

WHERE:

Ernest Valdez Hall
Fresno Convention Center
700 M Street
Fresno, CA 93721

NOTES:

TV cameras should be set up by 9:45 a.m. Secretary Padilla will be available for interviews prior to the ceremony.

CONTACTS:

Secretary Padilla: Sam Mahood or Jesse Melgar (916) 653-6575
USCIS: Sharon Rummery
(415) 248-8873 (office); (415) 987-0191 (cell)

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Follow the California Secretary of State on Twitter and Facebook.